Chapter 82 Try it
"Let me try."

Li Jiandong volunteered.

Although the push rod is forged, this large part cannot be operated on a bench lathe.

However, Li Jiandong's pixel eye can at least be used as a caliper to help remind workers in the foundry workshop to reduce errors.

"Master Li, can you do this?"

Qin Xiaodan, Qin Gong's daughter, asked.

Although her tone was questioning, her eyes were full of expectation.

The same went for other people. Even though they knew Li Jiandong was not a blacksmith, they all had an inexplicable trust in him.

"It should be about the same. We should try our best. If it doesn't work, we can think of other ways."

Li Jiandong did not make too many promises. After all, he was not the one who actually operated the work. He just provided a pair of eyes.

There is really no better way at the moment. Since Li Jiandong is willing to try, Chief Engineer Qin and others can only choose to believe him.

The next step was the preparatory work. Since Li Jiandong had not really participated in this research and development before, and only played a scheduling and coordinating role, the first step was to explain to him the details of the equipment drawings.

Li Jiandong has a unique skill and is proficient in machinery. It is found that he not only understands the running equipment, but also knows all the mechanical parts at a glance.

He even found some areas that could be improved among these accessories.

However, the main equipment has been completed, only a push rod is missing, and these areas for improvement are not particularly helpful for the operation of the equipment.

Therefore, Li Jiandong did not make any improvements on the spot, but forged it according to the previous design.

The person responsible for cooperating with Li Jiandong is an 8th-level worker in the forging workshop, and he is also one of the only three 8th-level workers in the entire venue.

I have to say that the level 8 worker is still reliable. With the help of Li Jiandong's pixel eye, it only took two times to successfully forge a qualified thrust rod.

Chief Engineer Qin and others worked without stopping for a moment.

We worked overtime that night to assemble the equipment, and then started a new round of test runs early the next morning.

Li Jiandong was watching again this time. When a round of test runs was completed and the steel billet had not yet been taken out, Li Jiandong knew that the heating was successful.

as predicted.

The steel billets are pushed out of the three-stage furnace with a smooth surface and complete overall integrity, exactly the same quality as the steel billets heated by imported equipment.

"It's done, we succeeded."

"Great, great."

"Hahahaha, we finally made our own heating equipment, woooo..."

More than half a year of disassembly, assembly and test runs, and countless failures.

Finally, this last success came.

Several young engineers couldn't help but shed tears of excitement.

Chief Engineer Qin also waved his fist excitedly.

"Director Li, thank you so much. Without you, we wouldn't have our three-stage heating furnace.

To be honest, with your ability, it's a bit of a waste for you to be a deputy production director.

If you are willing to join us, I can help you write an application for an engineering assistant position. "

As the chief designer of Nangang, Mr. Qin is a senior engineer and has the right to apply for the position of assistant engineer.

Moreover, they are currently engaged in research and development, if you apply for an assistant engineer at this time.

You don’t even need to go to school for further studies. You can directly replace learning with internship. After the research and development is completed, you can directly become a formal engineer.

It stands to reason that having more skills is always a benefit. Having the title of engineer will not affect Li Jiandong's continued work as a cadre. On the contrary, he can get an additional R&D subsidy.

But Li Jiandong doesn't lack this little money, nor does he lack the title of engineer.

He has now reached a very high level in terms of both fame and fortune.

The fact that he built a hydroelectric power station by himself made him famous, much more famous than an ordinary engineer.

Once you have become an engineer, and your superior suddenly asks you to do a task, would you go?

It is impossible not to go, but if you go, your freedom will inevitably be restricted.

Li Jiandong is not unwilling to serve the country, but he has a system for recruiting disciples. Only by constantly recruiting disciples can he achieve the greatest improvement.

Although he now has many skills, the only ones that have reached the maximum level are fitter and repairman.

However, just these two simple skills brought about unique abilities that easily solved a problem that ten engineers had been unable to solve for several months.

What if other skills are also maxed out?
By then, industry, agriculture, medicine, and other skills will all reach maximum levels.

Li Jiandong sits at the center and sends his apprentices to various industries to shine.

Isn't this much better than fighting alone now that he has just gained a little ability?

So Li Jiandong rejected the other party without hesitation.

"Mr. Qin, forget it. Compared to doing research myself, I prefer teaching apprentices, and I am better at teaching apprentices."

Chief Engineer Qin still said without giving up:
"Director Li, you may not realize your strengths. To be honest, even if you teach more good apprentices, their total achievements may not be comparable to yours in industrial design.

Listen to me, you should think carefully about becoming an engineer. The salary of engineers and the contribution they make to the country are no less than that of cadres. "

Another engineer nearby echoed:

"Yes, Director Li, the salary level of our chief engineer is the same as that of your Director Yang. With your industrial talent, your future achievements may not be inferior to our chief engineer. If you become a cadre, can you guarantee that you can be promoted to the position of Director Yang?"

They were telling the truth, but they didn't understand Li Jiandong.

"Engineer Qin, Engineer Wang, forget it. I know my own level well. If you need me for future research and development, just let me know. As for the engineer exam, there is no need for me to do that."

Li Jiandong refused again and again, and Chief Engineer Qin and others could only sigh helplessly.

In the subsequent research and development process, Li Jiandong was invited to participate throughout.

With the help of his two unique skills of pixel eye and mechanical proficiency, Li Jiandong can almost always spot at a glance the defects in the foreign equipment imitated by Chief Engineer Qin and his team.

With his reminder, the research and development speed increased countless times. It took more than half a year in the early stage to complete the heating equipment, and in the later stage it only took three months to imitate the remaining parts.

In addition, during the research and development process of Chief Engineer Qin and his team, Li Jiandong also made some improvements to the equipment, which ultimately increased the performance of the steel rolling mill by 7% and the efficiency by 18%.

It may not seem like much of an improvement, but it is already close to the world's advanced steel rolling level.

"Congratulations, Engineer Qin. Our independently developed equipment is finally complete. From now on, we don't have to always rely on foreigners to roll steel."

On the day when the equipment was successfully developed, all the leaders of the factory came.

Director Yang, Deputy Director Zhou, Director Dai, Director Wang, and Li Huaide were also present.

As the head of the R&D team sent by the Ministry of Industry, Li Huaide was just a figurehead and rarely went to the R&D workshop.

I only visited the site a few times after a few successful test drives, but even so, I still easily earned the credit.

There's no point in being envious, because his wife already has someone else at home.

"Director Yang, I'm ashamed to say that when we were asked to come to Beicheng for research and development, we were a little reluctant. Who knew that we would find out later that there are capable people in our factory?"

Chief Engineer Qin looked at Li Jiandong and continued, "Director Yang, leaders, although I led the research and development this time, I really dare not say that it is my own credit. Compared with what we have done, Director Li Jiandong of our factory has made the greatest contribution."

"Oh? What did Li Jiandong do again?"

Director Yang's eyes lit up, and he was also very interested in the development of this self-service equipment from the beginning.

After all, he was doing research and development at the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill, and as the factory director, he must have contributed to its success.

However, after paying attention to it for several months, Chief Engineer Qin and his team failed to solve even the first topic, so Director Yang became too lazy to pay attention to it anymore.

Unexpectedly, less than half a year later, the self-service equipment was developed and completed.

Therefore, he didn't know what Li Jiandong did later.

Not only him, but no other leader except Li Huaide knew what Li Jiandong had done in the past few months.

It was not until Chief Engineer Qin listed Li Jiandong's contributions one by one that everyone realized that this time's independent equipment seemed to be developed by Li Jiandong alone. He participated in every piece of equipment and gave key opinions.

"Great, great, great. Jiandong, you really made our Red Star Steel Rolling Mill proud."

Director Yang was very happy. Li Jiandong was from the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill. It would sound much better if their own people developed new equipment on their own territory than if outsiders came to do the research and development.

The other leaders of the steel rolling mill were also very excited. They had previously felt aggrieved when they let the engineer from Nangang take over as the general manager.

Li Jiandong really stood up for them.

"Director Li, congratulations, you have made a great contribution this time."

"Once the results of this research are submitted, you may lose your title as deputy director."

"Director Wang, you have to be careful. You're about to be surpassed by the young people."

"Hahaha, being surpassed by young people is a good thing. I, Old Wang, am so old now. If Jiandong really likes my position, I will retire right here and now to support him."

"Not really, not really. Director Wang is too kind to me."

The leaders were all very excited and their words were quite explosive.

However, it is rare for cadres to exchange positions with their deputy positions, and leaders are not fools. How could they deliberately intensify such conflicts? If a deputy position is promoted to a full-time position and the original full-time position is squeezed out, what do you think the original full-time position holder will think? Don't they have any face?
Therefore, even if he gets promoted, Li Jiandong will probably work full-time in another department.
Although he has been a cadre for a short time, Li Jiandong still has some understanding of the rules in the workplace.

The facts were just as he thought. The logistics director was approaching retirement and took the initiative to step down from the management position.

Thanks to his great contribution in the independent research and development of steel rolling equipment, Li Jiandong took over the other party's position of logistics director and was promoted from a deputy position to a full-time position in one fell swoop.

Another person who came to the steel mill to gain experience, Li Huaide, also stayed in the steel mill because of his merit, but his position was director of the Propaganda Department.

Although the logistics director is ranked low, his actual power is similar to that of the deputy director of the production department.

However, there is an essential difference between the original and the duplicate.

The biggest gap is that the logistics director is a member of the leadership team and has voting rights in major decisions of the steel mill and leadership appointments.

The deputy director of the production department does not have these two rights.

Not to mention the deputy director of the production department, even the deputy director of the political value department is the same.

Only the two directors and deputy directors of the steel rolling mill and the 16 department directors are considered senior leaders.

"Jiandong, Huaide, congratulations on joining the leadership team of our steel mill. On behalf of all the cadres and workers of our factory, I would like to toast you."

At the promotion banquet for Li Jiandong and Li Huaide, Director Yang took the lead in giving speeches and toasts.

Li Jiandong was naturally very happy, but Li Huaide was a little unhappy.

Because this time he only appointed a propaganda department director, who, although also a member of the team, ranked very low.

According to the plan Li Huaide had shared with his family, this independent research and development would take at least three to five years.

During this period, he was working in the steel rolling mill to gain experience. After the independent research and development was completed, he would be promoted to deputy director based on his merits.

But who would have thought that because of Li Jiandong's participation, the project that was originally planned to take 3 to 5 years to successfully develop was completed in less than a year.

Li Huaide has only been here for a year. First of all, he lacks the qualifications, so it is difficult for him to be the deputy factory director. Also, because the R&D time is too short, the leaders think that this R&D is very simple.

Therefore, naturally, he was given much less credit.

When Li Huaide was in the Ministry of Industry, he was a section-level cadre.

He is now the propaganda section chief of the steel rolling mill and is still a section-level cadre.

Not only is this equivalent to a lateral transfer, but before being promoted to deputy factory director, one usually has to work in the political office for a period of time.

After all, the director of the Political Value Department is also the deputy factory director in preparation, and almost every major leader of each unit is promoted from the Political Value Department before being promoted.

This means that if Li Huaide wants to become deputy factory director, he needs to be promoted twice, so of course he is a little depressed.

After the promotion banquet, Director Yang left Li Jiandong alone.

"Jiandong, do you have any thoughts about taking up the post in the Logistics Department this time?"

Li Jiandong knew that Director Yang had something to tell him, so he answered irrelevantly.

"Director Yang, thank you for trusting me and giving me the opportunity to manage logistics. I will definitely work hard in my new position."

"okay."

Director Yang nodded. His previous words were just an opening statement. Now he got to the point:
"Jiandong, you are the most capable person I have ever met in all the years I have worked at the steel mill. It would be a waste of your talent to have you work in the kitchen.

But you have to understand that the logistics director is still a member of the team. Do you know what a team member means?"

Li Jiandong nodded: "I know, it means I have the right to vote."

Director Yang smiled and said, "Yes, it means you have the right to vote, but it's not just the right to vote, it also means you can continue to move up."

Seeing that Li Jiandong was listening attentively, Director Yang continued:
"You know Director Wang is old, but he still has more than three years before retirement. If you want to work your way up from the production department step by step, you have to wait at least two years until he retires."

“Although the Production Department ranks ahead of the Logistics Department, neither of them is eligible to be directly promoted to deputy factory director.”

"If you want to be promoted to deputy factory director, you must first go to the Political Affairs Office. If you perform well, the next time there is a team change, you will have a good chance of being directly appointed as the director of the Political Affairs Office, bypassing the director of the Production Department. Do you understand what I mean?"

Li Jiandong nodded. He understood what Director Yang meant. He was planning to train him as his confidant.

Director Yang meant that he wanted to be eligible to compete directly for the position of Director of the Political Value Department in the next election, so that he would have a chance to be promoted to Deputy Director in the future.

This promotion path was very obvious, and Li Jiandong understood it as soon as he heard it.

Moreover, he heard a hint of urgency in Director Yang's words. Could it be that he already knew that there would be major changes in the leadership team of the steel rolling mill?

"Director Yang, is Director Dai about to make progress?"

Since Director Yang spoke to him without reservation and even mentioned things like promotion directly, Li Jiandong certainly did not try to hide it anymore.

Sometimes asking some sensitive questions can actually increase the number of people you meet.

When Director Yang heard that he dared to ask such a question, he didn't get angry but laughed instead.

He put his arm around Li Jiandong's shoulder and said, "You are indeed a smart kid, but it's not that Xiao Dai needs to make progress, but that our factory leadership team needs to be expanded. Previously, there was only one director and one deputy director, and they were too busy to handle many things. In addition, we have been expanding in the past two years, so after consideration by the leaders, we are going to add a deputy director."

"However, this matter is still under study, and the specific implementation date is still uncertain. Anyway, you just need to know about this matter, and don't go out and talk about it, lest someone remembers it and puts you in trouble."

Director Yang really cares about Li Jiandong.

Of course, this is also because Li Jiandong is indeed a talent, and he has won honors for the steel rolling mill many times.

First it was solar power generation, then the hydropower station, and now with the research and development of self-service equipment, in just a few years Director Yang and the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill have been commended many times in front of the leaders.

Li Jiandong is the only one in the entire steel rolling mill vying for honor. If Director Yang doesn't train him, who else should he train?
"Don't worry, Director Yang. I will definitely not spread this matter."

"Well, I believe you."

Director Yang patted Li Jiandong on the shoulder and let him leave.

When they returned to the office building, Director Wang had already called back everyone in the department and prepared to move an office for Li Jiandong.

"Jiandong, congratulations. You have joined the team at such a young age. Your future achievements will be limitless."

Director Wang congratulated Li Jiandong with a smile.

Although I have already congratulated you during dinner, it would be more sincere to congratulate you individually.

Also, some things are not good to say in front of too many people, such as the phrase "unlimited".

If other ambitious department heads heard this, they might regard Li Jiandong as a competitor or even an enemy.

"Thank you, Director Wang, and all my colleagues. If you have any requests for our logistics in the future, please feel free to ask. We are all one family in our department, and we will definitely take care of you."

Li Jiandong said a few polite words, which caused a round of applause.

The offices of the Logistics Department and the Production Department are both on the first floor. Director Wang asked someone to help Li Jiandong move things.

The staff of the logistics department have already helped Li Jiandong vacate his office.

After completing the handover with the original logistics director, Li Jiandong officially began working in the Logistics Department.

(End of this chapter)